Method and arrangement for transferring packaging containers from a first unit to a second unit

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a synchronizing method and transfer arrangement for synchronizing the patterns of movement between two units included in a packaging line, where one unit is driven intermittently and the other continuously. The invention relates in particular to a transfer arrangement between an intermittently operating tube filler and a continuously operating cartoning machine. The transfer arrangement has a frame arrangement ( 13 ) intended to support tube pickers/placers ( 28 ) and arranged for a pivoting movement about a horizontal axis ( 16 ) and for a turning movement about a vertical axis ( 17 ). The turning movement about the axis ( 17 ) gives an acceleration course for the frame in a position in front of the tube release station, and this turning movement generating acceleration is obtained by an axially acting cam guide ( 32 ). The latter is designed so that the tube pickers/placers in the release position are given the same speed as the case conveyor of the cartoning machine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for transferringpackaging containers, in particular packaging tubes, from a first unitoperating intermittently in a first horizontal path to a second unitoperating continuously in a second horizontal path.

The invention relates in particular to a method and arrangement fortransferring filled tubes from a tube filler, operating in a horizontalcircular path and provided with a plurality of filling nozzles, to acontinuously operating cartoning machine.

PRIOR ART

It has for many years been known to handle packaging containers, and inparticular packaging tubes, using the so-called pick-and-placeprinciple. This principle is used, for example, for collecting packagingtubes downstream of a filler, and the principle is applied in such a waythat the tubes, downstream of the filler, are placed in a so-called“stepped conveyor”, i.e. a belt provided with a number of cases.

To be able to handle a continuously operating conveyor belt with thesecases, some form of transfer arrangement is needed which can handle thetransition between intermittent feeding of packaging containers andcontinuous feeding.

A method for doing this is the so-called drop-flap principle. In this, aflap device is inserted between a conveyor belt serving as buffer belt,in which packaging containers are continuously fed with a certainspacing between them, and a continuously operating conveyor beltprovided with “cases”. To be able to drop the packaging containers intothe associated cases on the continuously driven belt, precise control ofthe flaps is required so that these are opened at the correct moment anda tube falls into the correct case. This method is relatively common,but it has the inherent disadvantage that one has to rely on gravity,and in addition to this the arrangement is such that friction alwaysremains an uncertain factor.

Another principle is based on a “rotating drum”. A drum provided withsuitable recesses corresponding to the container shape is in this caseinserted between a delivery conveyor, on which tubes are advanced with acertain spacing between them, and a “case conveyor”. The conveyorprovided with cases is arranged under this drum, and the speed ofrotation of the rotating drum is adapted in such a way that as soon asone of the recesses is situated over a case, a packaging container dropsinto the case.

Problem on which the Invention is Based

The trend in the packaging machines sector is towards ever higherproduction capacity and thus higher speeds. A specific problem in thisconnection is the inadequacy of known transfer arrangements, for exampleof the above-mentioned type, where during the transfer phase from oneunit to another, for example from filler to cartoning machine, there isinsufficient control of the packaging container. The gravitationprinciple can of course be used for insertion into the respective case,but during the actual transfer phase problems may arise due to the factthat the packaging containers are not continuously and positivelygripped.

The object of the invention is therefore to make available a solution inwhich this disadvantage is eliminated, and which solution can begenerally applied for synchronizing the transfer of packaging containersfrom one movement path to another with complete control, and gripping ofthe containers throughout the entire transfer phase.

THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is achieved by means of a method and anarrangement as specified in attached patent claims 1 and 12,respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, in a partial perspective view, from the side, a transferarrangement according to the invention in position for picking up tubes(not shown) from an intermittently operating filler,

FIG. 2 shows the transfer arrangement from FIG. 1 in a partialperspective view, seen from above, and in the position according to FIG.1,

FIG. 3 shows the transfer arrangement in position for releasing tubes toa continuously driven conveyor in a cartoning machine,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic outline view showing the main components of thetransfer arrangement,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic outline view showing the transfer arrangementin position for picking up tubes in a tube filler,

FIG. 6 shows the transfer arrangement from FIG. 5, seen from the side.

FIG. 7 shows the transfer arrangement in an intermediate position, withthe frame arrangement which holds the filled tubes in a position readyfor acceleration movement,

FIG. 8 shows the transfer arrangement from FIG. 7, seen from the side,

FIG. 9 shows the transfer arrangement pivoted forwards to the conveyorof the cartoning machine, with the tubes accelerated to the conveyor'sspeed and horizontally oriented with the correct mutual spacing forplacement in cases on the conveyor,

FIG. 10 shows the transfer arrangement from FIG. 9, seen from the side,

FIG. 11 shows the transfer arrangement in an intermediate position, onthe way back towards the pick-up position, with the frame arrangementnow without tubes, at the end of a deceleration phase, and

FIG. 12 shows the transfer arrangement from FIG. 11, seen from the side.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 4, the main components of a transfer arrangementaccording to the invention are shown here. The transfer arrangement issupported on a machine stand 10 at a suitable distance between anintermittently operating filler (FIG. 5) and a continuously operatingso-called case conveyor 12 (FIG. 9) in a cartoning machine. Supported onthe stand 10, there is a frame arrangement 13 which comprises a firstframe 14 and a second frame 15. The frame 14 can pivot about a pivotaxis 16, and the frame 15 can turn about an axis of rotation 17.

To generate the pivoting of the frame 14 about the pivot axis 16, theframe 14 is fixed in terms of rotation on a shaft 18 mounted in theframe 15. Arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on this shaft 18,there is an arm 19 which is connected to an articulated rod 20. Theother end of the articulated rod is connected to a cam follower arm 21which at its other end is mounted in a bearing 22 in the machine stand.On the cam follower arm there is a cam follower roller 23, and apiston/cylinder 24 acting with a spring force loads the arm 21 and thecam follower roller 23 against a cam plate 25 which in turn is fixed interms of rotation on a drive shaft 26. As will be seen from the figure,the cam plate 25 acts peripherally, and its peripheral design generates,upon rotation of the shaft 26, a reciprocating movement of the camfollower arm 21 between the position indicated by continuous lines andthe position indicated by broken lines, and this in turn results inupward and downward movement of the articulated rod 20 and thus areciprocating rotational movement of the shaft 18 and the frame 14secured thereon.

FIG. 4 shows three tubes 27 mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on ashaft 29 of a tube picker/placer 28 (FIG. 5). The shaft 29 is driven bya cam belt 30 and acquires its reciprocating rotational movement fromthe shaft 18 driven by the articulated rod 20. The tube pickers/placers28 on the shaft 29 execute a pivoting movement to and fro about thepivot axis 31.

During the pivoting movement forwards to the tube release position andback to the tube pick-up position, the tubes are thus given a pivotingmovement which is determined by a combination of the pivoting movementof the frame 14 and the pivoting movement of the tube pickers/placersabout the pivot axis 31, obtained from the driving of the shaft 29 bythe cam belt 30. By designing the radially acting cam plate 25 in acorresponding manner, and by using the articulated rod 20 to give theshaft 18 the necessary turning movement and thus the cam belt 30 theappropriate transmission ratio, the whole set-up is such that by meansof the pivoting movement, or tilting movement, of the frame arrangement14, the tubes 27 are picked up in a vertical position in the tube fillerand these tubes are delivered horizontally to the conveyor of thecartoning machine (FIG. 9).

In addition to the described pivoting or tilting movement of the frame14 and the tube pickers/placers 28, an arrangement is provided forlimited turning of the frame 15 about the axis of rotation 17, which, ascan be seen from FIG. 4, is oriented vertically and centrally in thetransfer arrangement. Arranged for this purpose on the drive shaft 26,there is a further cam plate 32 which is of the axially acting type (seeFIG. 8, for example). Running in the cam plate track 32 a provided forspecific movement, there is a cam follower roller 32 b which is arrangedon an arm 32 c connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft (notshown) arranged in a rotationally fixed manner in the frame 15, inorder, during movement of the arm 32 c in the track 32 a, to give theframe 15 a reciprocating rotational movement about the axis of rotation17.

Thus, as will be described below, during the pivoting or tiltingmovement of the frame arrangement 13, a turning movement about the axisof rotation 17 is superimposed on the pattern of movement, and thisturning movement plays an important part in this context. In fact,during the continuous pivoting of the frame 13 from pick-up position torelease position, it is possible by this means to create an accelerationcourse for the tube pickers/placers at exactly the right moment, namelyimmediately before the tubes are to be released to the continuouslydriven conveyor in the cartoning machine. It has in fact been found inpractice that by suitable design of the axially acting cam trackarrangement 32 a in the cam plate 32 and by corresponding adaptation ofthe arm 32 c, a moderate acceleration course is sufficient tosynchronize the movements. FIG. 7 shows, for example, a 5° turn of theframe arrangement 13 for generating an acceleration course to thecartoning machine which, in the example shown, delivers 300 tubes perminute (3 tube pickers/placers).

In addition to this acceleration, however, it is also necessary to beable to handle the positions of the tube pickers/placers on the shaft 29all the way from the pick-up position (FIG. 5) to the release position.In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, filled tubes arein fact picked up from a embodiment shown in the drawings, filled tubesare in fact picked up from a partially circular path (FIG. 5) in thetube filler and released to a straight path. In addition, the spacingbetween adjacent tubes on the partially circular path differs from thespacing between adjacent tubes which is defined by the cases on theconveyor 12.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, there are threetube pickers/placers on the shaft 29, and the whole set-up is arrangedin such a way that the central tube picker/placer is fixed centrally onthe shaft 29 while the outer pickers/placers can be moved along theshaft 29. The length of the outer pickers/placers viewed from the shaft29 and radially outwards is constant and adapted to the prevailingmachine parameters in order to permit the described transfer movement.By contrast, the central picker/placer is articulated about a shaft 33parallel to the shaft 29. In the pick-up position according to FIG. 5,the central picker/placer will in fact have a shorter length than itdoes in the release position according to FIG. 9, where all thepickers/placers have the same radial extent viewed from the shaft 29.This articulation 33 is controlled from a fixed cam arrangement (notshown) during the turning of the shaft 29.

In order also to control the necessary axial displacement of the outerpickers/placers, these are arranged in axially acting cam guides 34fixed in terms of rotation on the shaft 29 (FIG. 5). During the turningof the shaft 29 by means of the cam belt 30, the axially acting guides34 move the outer pickers/placers towards the central picker and, as hasbeen mentioned above, at the same time the radial length of the centralpicker/placer viewed from the shaft 29 will be lengthened. After theframe arrangement 13 has been pivoted or tilted to the positionaccording to FIG. 9, the spacing between the tubes is thus identical tothe spacing on the conveyor 12, and at the same time the circleconfiguration, in which the tubes originally lie according to FIG. 5,has been converted to a rectilinear configuration. During the pivotingof the frame arrangement 13, the original configuration in the form ofan arc of a circle is successively straightened out and the axiallyacting guides will compensate for the height difference between thecentral picker/placer and the two outer pickers/placers, so as finally,and in a well-ordered manner, by means of the frame arrangement, toallow the tubes to be placed in the cases on the conveyor 12.

Each picker/placer has a cup-shaped recess 28 a adapted to the contourof the tubes, and the tubes are fixed in position by means of vacuumattachments 28 b all the way from pick-up according to FIG. 5 to releaseaccording to FIG. 9. This provides positive in-built security againstfailure and gives the exact position of each tube throughout the entireprocess.

For those aspects of the transfer process which have not already beendiscussed above, reference is made to FIGS. 5 to 12 which show acomplete transfer cycle.

Thus, in FIG. 5, filled tubes are picked up from a partially circularpath of an intermittently operating tube filler, three tubes at a time.The pickers/placers 28 have in this case a positioning corresponding tothe partially circular configuration of the tubes, with the centralpicker/placer drawn back by turning about the articulation 33 (FIG. 4).The frame arrangement 13 is in the position shown in FIG. 6. The vacuumis established via attachments 28 b and the cavities 28 a engage thetubes via elastic inserts 28 d (FIG. 1) after these have been lifted byejectors (not shown) in tube holders 28 c in the filler 11.

FIG. 7 shows an intermediate position during the pivoting movement ofthe frame arrangement 13 forwards to the position according to FIG. 9.In this intermediate position, the axially acting cam guide 32, byturning about the axis of rotation 17, has effected a 5° turn of theframe arrangement 13 anti-clockwise from the line 35. The framearrangement, with the pickers/placers arranged thereon, is thus in astarting position for commencement of an acceleration movement in theclockwise direction under the control of the axially acting cam guide32. By suitable design of the latter, it has been found that a 5° turnabout the axis of rotation 17 is sufficient for the pickers/placers toassume a peripheral speed, in the position according to FIG. 9,corresponding to the speed of the conveyor 12. Since the spacing betweenthe pickers/placers corresponds to the spacing of the cases on theconveyor, and in addition since the tubes are oriented in a straightline, these tubes can be easily dropped into the respective case byinterrupting the vacuum to the attachments 28 b.

FIG. 8 shows, in a side view, the position of the frame arrangement 13and associated parts.

As has already been mentioned, the tubes in the position according toFIG. 9 are oriented horizontally and with the necessary spacing, and theframe arrangement 13 is in the position shown in FIG. 10.

After the tubes have been released, the frame arrangement 13 graduallyassumes a position according to FIG. 11. This position represents anintermediate position in which the frame arrangement 15 has been turnedabout the axis of rotation 17 by means of the axially acting cam guidein order, during a turning movement of 5°, to permit deceleration of theturning movement of the frame about the axis of rotation 17.

After this intermediate position, the frame arrangement and associatedparts return to the positions which are shown in FIG. 1. Although thepivoting/tilting movement of the frame arrangement is shown in differentphases in FIGS. 1 to 11, it will of course be appreciated that thismovement takes place in one sequence and very quickly. Since the tubesare held in place positively throughout the entire pattern of movement,secure and correct handling is guaranteed at very high speeds.

Although the invention has been described with reference to oneillustrative embodiment, it will be appreciated that the inventiveconcept according to the attached patent claims can be applied incontexts other than packaging tubes. For example, the transferarrangement can be used between all sorts of units in a packaging linewhere synchronizing between different patterns of movement is required.However, an important feature in this connection is that the containerpickers/placers are given a suitable acceleration course at the finalstage in order to achieve the desired synchronizing. The tubes do nonecessarily need to be tilted from a vertical to a fully horizontalposition, from pick-up to release, although this is preferable.

The invention is thus limited only by what is set out in the attachedpatent claims.

1. A method for transferring packaging containers from a first unitoperating intermittently along a first horizontal path to a second unitoperating at a continuous speed along a second horizontal pathcomprising: arranging a plurality of container transfer mechanisms on aframe which is adapted to be pivoted about a first horizontal axis froma container pick-up position forward toward a container release positionand then back to the container pick-up position; gripping a number ofcontainers in said first horizontal path; and, accelerating said frameabout a vertical axis during its pivoting movement to said containerrelease position such that the speed of the container transfermechanisms in said container release position corresponds to saidcontinuous speed of said second unit.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising moving the container transfer mechanisms to a mutual spacingcorresponding to a mutual container spacing in the second unit duringthe pivoting movement of the frame forward to the container releaseposition.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first horizontal pathcomprises a partially circular path portion where the containers arepicked up, said method further comprising compensating, during thepivoting movement, for differences in height arising from the pivotingmovement, between the containers picked up from the partially circularpath portion.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the containersare oriented vertically in the first horizontal path, said methodfurther comprising arranging the transfer mechanisms to pivot in theframe about a second horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontalaxis such that movement about the second horizontal axis in combinationwith the pivoting movement about the first horizontal axis results inthe containers arriving horizontally at the second horizontal path.
 5. Amethod of transferring filled tubes from a tube filler provided with aplurality of filling nozzles operating in a horizontal, at leastpartially circular path, to a cartoning machine operating at acontinuous speed comprising: arranging a plurality of tube transfermechanisms on a frame adapted to pivot about a first horizontal axisfrom a tube pick-up position forward to a tube release position and backto the tube pick-up position; gripping a number of filled tubes in theat least partially circular path of the tube filler; accelerating theframe about a vertical axis during its pivoting movement to the tuberelease position such that the speed of the tube transfer mechanisms inthe release position corresponds to the speed of the cartoning machine;moving the tube transfer mechanisms to a mutual spacing corresponding toa mutual spacing in the cartoning machine; and, compensating fordifferences in height arising from the pivoting movement between thetubes picked up from the partially circular path.
 6. The method of claim5, further comprising arranging the tube transfer mechanisms to pivot inthe frame about a second horizontal axis parallel to the firsthorizontal axis such that movement about the second horizontal axis incombination with the pivoting movement about the first horizontal axisresults in the tubes arriving horizontally at the cartoning machine. 7.The method of claim 5, further comprising positively holding the tubesby force by the transfer mechanisms during the entire pivoting movementof the frame forward to the release position.
 8. The method of claim 5,further comprising pivoting the frame during a first phase of itspivoting movement to an intermediate position such that the frame duringthis first phase of movement is turned a predetermined angle about thevertical axis, wherein the frame arrangement, during a succeeding secondphase of its pivoting movement, forward to the tube release position,executes the accelerating movement during a turning movement in adirection counter to the first, but with the same angle of turning. 9.The method of claim 5, wherein the frame moves in a patterned movementinverse to the patterned movement leading to the release position afterreleasing the filled tubes to the cartoning machine, the patternedmovement comprising deceleration of the turning movement about thevertical axis, resetting of the frame to the starting position relativeto the vertical axis and the horizontal axes, and resetting of the tubetransfer mechanisms to the starting position.
 10. The method of claim 5,wherein all movements are generated by mechanically operated cam guides.11. The method of claim 5, wherein the gripping, holding and releasingof the tubes is by transfer mechanisms operating with a vacuum.
 12. Anapparatus for transferring filled tubes from a tube filler having aplurality of filling nozzles and operating intermittently in ahorizontal and at least partially circular path to a continuouslyoperating cartoning machine comprising: a frame supported in a standoutside of the filler's at least partially circular path, wherein saidframe is adapted to pivot about a first horizontal axis and turn about avertical axis; tube transfer mechanisms arranged in the frame; apivoting mechanism for pivoting the frame from a tube pick-up positionforward to a tube release position and back to the tube pick-upposition; a turning mechanism for turning the frame about the verticalaxis and accelerating said tube transfer mechanisms over an accelerationcourse during the pivoting movement of said frame forward to the tuberelease position; and, an arrangement for triggering and controlling theacceleration over the acceleration course such that said tube transfermechanisms are synchronized with the cartoning machine.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a moving mechanism which,during the pivoting movement of said frame to the tube release position,moves said tube transfer mechanisms to a mutual spacing corresponding toa spacing in the cartoning machine; and, a compensation mechanism forcompensating differences in height, occasioned by the pivoting movement,between the tubes picked up from the at least partially circular path ofthe filler, such that a set of tubes lying in a straight line isreleased to the cartoning machine.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13,wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises a radially acting cam guidedriven by a drive shaft mounted in said stand and said turning mechanismfor the turning movement of the frame comprises an axial cam guidedriven by the same drive shaft.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinsaid tube transfer mechanisms are supported pivotably in said frame on asecond horizontal axis defining a second pivot axis parallel to saidfirst horizontal axis.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein aspring-loaded articulated rod is driven for vertical upward and downwardmovement from said drive shaft via said radial cam guide and isconnected in an articulated manner to a rotationally fixed arm on afirst supporting horizontal shaft which supports said frame in apivotable manner and defines the first horizontal axis.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein said frame further comprises a verticalshaft defining said vertical axis and connected in a rotationally fixedmanner to a second arm controlled by said axial cam guide.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 16, further comprising a cam belt arranged totransmit the movement of said articulation rod from said firstsupporting horizontal shaft to a second supporting horizontal shaft. 19.The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second supporting horizontalshaft comprises axial guides for heels supporting said tube transfermechanisms, said heels adapted such that the turning of said secondsupporting horizontal shaft, generated by said cam belt, during thepivoting movement of said frame forward to the tube release position,sets said tube transfer mechanisms in a position corresponding tospacing in the cartoning machine.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, whereinat least one of said heels is articulated for the purpose of generatingsaid height compensation.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein aguide, provided with said axial guide and extending parallel to saidsecond supporting horizontal shaft, controls said heels.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein three tube transfer mechanisms aresupported by said second supporting horizontal shaft and said guide, ofwhich a central transfer mechanism is fixed, centrally positioned andarticulated parallel to said horizontal pivoting axes, while outertransfer mechanisms are adapted to be axially displaced by said axialguide.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the articulation isdesigned such that, in the pick-up position, said central tube transfermechanism and said two outer tube transfer mechanisms lie on animaginary arc of a circle corresponding to the partially circular fillerpath.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each tube transfermechanism has a cupped tube-securing surface provided with vacuumopenings.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said vacuum openings ofsaid tube-securing surface are arranged to be active during the entirepivoting movement of the frame arrangement from the pick-up position tothe release position.